Several consultants address the issue of competencies required of professional librarians for the effective management of the automation process. Highlights include formal and professional ongoing education and the need for technical training and problem solving skills to enable librarians to evaluate and develop library systems effectively.…

This brief description of the research program being carried out through the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of California, Los Angeles, focuses on issues, problems, and needs for research for long-range strategic planning for library and information resources in the research universities of the future. (MBR)

Discusses converting a school library into an integrated, effective technology center, including planning for library automation; evaluating the current collection; CD-ROM purchasing decisions; and online catalog and circulation systems. A sidebar considers the politics of automation, including staff, administration, and school boards. (LRW)

Presents five articles and a company resource directory to help librarians successfully incorporate technology into school libraries. Discusses actual situations, examines student needs, and gives advice to help librarians with library automation systems, videodiscs, library security systems, media retrieval, networking CD-ROMs, and locating…

Describes a long-range plan developed by the Cleveland Public Library to provide users with electronic information and full text delivery. Specific goals are addressed, including online catalog access and converting periodical holdings to electronic format; legal issues involving copyright are discussed; and pricing issues and user fees are…

Examines factors relating to selecting machine-readable information sources from the perspective of the library manager concerned with serving user needs. Professional and novice searchers are considered; remote time sharing, CD-ROM workstations, and local tapes are described and compared; network choices are discussed; and impacts on the…

"The Evolution of a School Library Network: Setting up a CD-ROM Local Area Network (LAN)" describes how to set up a CD-ROM LAN in a school library, including establishing a technology plan and choosing hardware, software, cabling, and staffing. A description of the Texas Education Network (TENET) and reviews of print and electronic…

Twelve articles describe the impact of library technologies on reference services. Staff training, the academic librarian as teacher and information provider, decision-making models for planning reference services, patron database access options, management of reference services, systemwide electronic access, and the electronic library are among…

This report describes a self-assessment study undertaken by the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) Library which was designed to describe current UCSB Library public services, investigate options and opportunities to enhance these services in anticipation of change, and make recommendations to ensure that the library continues to…

This self-study by the public services staff of Brown University Library provided an opportunity for them to examine past, present, and future operations. The study was conducted by 33 volunteers from the library staff, who were organized into 1 study team and 5 task forces; they worked more than 14 months to develop the recommendations and plans…

The December 1985 program session of the Library of Congress Network Advisory Committee (NAC) focused on determining the effectiveness of networking, identifying a common vision or goal, and developing a strategy to accomplish that goal. The program session included remarks on the role of the regional networks in national networking by Louella V.…

Considers changes in academic libraries that are occurring as a result of information technology. Topics discussed include the environment, including attitudinal, behavioral, and structural changes, funding, strategic planning, and Total Quality Management; electronic journals and books; multimedia; desk top publishing; publishing economics;…

Describes the application of a comprehensive planning process to the library media program in the Lincoln (Nebraska) Public Schools. Highlights include identification of program needs; curriculum integration; a study of school library media center collections; use of technology; and essential elements for program change. (eight references) (LRW)

The six articles comprising this special section on MELVYL, the University of California automated library system, discuss plans for the future, general recommendations for online catalog design, evaluation methods, evolution of computing resources, impact on the work of librarians, and academic goals and benefits. A chronology of MELVYL…

Describes problems encountered by the staff of the Georgia Power Company Library when they planned for the automation of their catalog. Topics discussed include developing software inhouse versus using commercial software packages; authority control and problems with standardization and subject access; changing from a mainframe to a microcomputer;…